Lewis Tew managed the drive-in, probably at the time it closed. He was the first manager at Tower Twin (in the Tower Shopping Center) when it opened in 1977 or 1978. By 1979, Tew was managing the Cardinal Theatre at North Hills. Before Tower Merchants Shopping Center was built next door to Tower Shopping Center in the early 1980s, one could see some remains of the drive-in. I recall seeing concrete slabs and a few poles. (The screen was long gone by then.)
In the early 1980s, in the middle of the night someone stole a bulldozer from the construction site next door (Tower Merchants) and took it for a joy ride. With the blade up, the bulldozer crashed through the left side exit door, went through the lobby and demolished the concession stand. Police and firemen arrived to find the bulldozer stopped against the interior lobby wall. No arrest was made, but rumor had it that it was a local high school kid that lived nearby. (Keith Carpenter was the theatre manager at that time.)
From about 1978 – 1986, the Terrace Triple Theatre was operated by Plitt Southern Theatres. In the 1990s, I believe it was operated by Carmike Theatres.
The Cardinal Theatre was a 2-screen theatre through the end of 1983. I know because I managed the theatre in 1983 before being transferred to another. (My best guess is that it became a triple screen around 1985.) The big auditorium played Return of the Jedi in the summer of 1983. We had long lines. Jedi actually opened up in Rocky Mount a few weeks after it opened in Raleigh. Employees wore Star Wars costumes and we cross promoted the film with Tarrytown Mall. I recall a coloring contest where we gave away Star Wars toys. We also had a torpedo style trash can painted like R2-D2. The smaller auditorium was added before 1983…probably the late 1970s. In 1983, we played first run movies (Jedi, Risky Business, Twilight Zone, Breathless, Krull, etc.) Also in the summer of 1983, we had kiddy movies every Tues-Thurs morning. We had a few late shows…mainly horror and Rocky Horror. The theatre was operated by Plitt Southern Theatres. Ushers wore red coats. The ladies wore smocks. I had a great staff that year. They were mainly high school kids. There was a marquee on the building and a sign at the top of the hill on Sunset Ave. Behind the theatre was an abandoned mini golf (Putt Putt) place. K-Mart was still operating. Next door was a chinese restaurant. A coin operated laundry mat was a few shops down the sidewalk. While in Rocky Mount in 2011, I stopped by the old theatre. It was abandoned. Trashy looking. I have a few photos of the theatre from 1983.
Lewis Tew managed the drive-in, probably at the time it closed. He was the first manager at Tower Twin (in the Tower Shopping Center) when it opened in 1977 or 1978. By 1979, Tew was managing the Cardinal Theatre at North Hills. Before Tower Merchants Shopping Center was built next door to Tower Shopping Center in the early 1980s, one could see some remains of the drive-in. I recall seeing concrete slabs and a few poles. (The screen was long gone by then.)
In the early 1980s, in the middle of the night someone stole a bulldozer from the construction site next door (Tower Merchants) and took it for a joy ride. With the blade up, the bulldozer crashed through the left side exit door, went through the lobby and demolished the concession stand. Police and firemen arrived to find the bulldozer stopped against the interior lobby wall. No arrest was made, but rumor had it that it was a local high school kid that lived nearby. (Keith Carpenter was the theatre manager at that time.)
The Tower Twin did not have 1200 seats. The larger auditorium had about 450 and the smaller had about 350.
From about 1978 – 1986, the Terrace Triple Theatre was operated by Plitt Southern Theatres. In the 1990s, I believe it was operated by Carmike Theatres.
When I was manager of this theatre from 1983-1985, the AstroTurf was there and showed signs of minor wear.
The Cardinal Theatre was a 2-screen theatre through the end of 1983. I know because I managed the theatre in 1983 before being transferred to another. (My best guess is that it became a triple screen around 1985.) The big auditorium played Return of the Jedi in the summer of 1983. We had long lines. Jedi actually opened up in Rocky Mount a few weeks after it opened in Raleigh. Employees wore Star Wars costumes and we cross promoted the film with Tarrytown Mall. I recall a coloring contest where we gave away Star Wars toys. We also had a torpedo style trash can painted like R2-D2. The smaller auditorium was added before 1983…probably the late 1970s. In 1983, we played first run movies (Jedi, Risky Business, Twilight Zone, Breathless, Krull, etc.) Also in the summer of 1983, we had kiddy movies every Tues-Thurs morning. We had a few late shows…mainly horror and Rocky Horror. The theatre was operated by Plitt Southern Theatres. Ushers wore red coats. The ladies wore smocks. I had a great staff that year. They were mainly high school kids. There was a marquee on the building and a sign at the top of the hill on Sunset Ave. Behind the theatre was an abandoned mini golf (Putt Putt) place. K-Mart was still operating. Next door was a chinese restaurant. A coin operated laundry mat was a few shops down the sidewalk. While in Rocky Mount in 2011, I stopped by the old theatre. It was abandoned. Trashy looking. I have a few photos of the theatre from 1983.